Amusement device



Feb. 2, 1965 c. BOQKMAN 3,168,315

AMUSEMENT DEVICE Filed July 10, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet l A- C. BOOKMAN AMUSEMENT DEVICE Feb. 2, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet. 2

Filed July 10, 1961 r \i ii I INVENTOR 756' C fine/(man United States Patent 3,168,315 AMUSEMENT DEVICE Abe C. Boolrman, Alabe Qrafts, 348 W. th St., Cincinnati, Ohio Filed July 10, 1961, Ser. No. 123,030 2 Claims. (Cl. 273-145) This invention relates to improvements in novelty amusement devices and has for its principal objective the construction and co-operation of certain elements thereof to provide for complete protection and eifective concealment of the liquid filled, die agitator of the amusement device.

Another object of the invention is to provide an extremely simplified yet rugged amusement device of the character described that may be fabricated from inexpensive parts in a minimum of manufacturing steps.

Another and more specific object of the invention is to provide a one-piece, decorative case for my amusement device that is produced from a plastic material in a blow mold operation for direct connection with a co-operating attachment means on the pedestal and die agitator assembly for the device.

A further object of my invention is to provide in an amusement device having the foregoing characteristics a liquid filled, die agitator free of internal bubbles and which normally maintains the liquid therein under a small negative pressure at ordinary temperatures by a deformed, flexible diaphragm that closes and seals off the agitator to thereby compensate for expansion and con traction of the contained liquid when the circumambient temperature of the device varies noticeably from said ordi nary temperatures.

With the above and other objects in view my invention resides in the novel features of construction, arrangement and combination of parts presently to be described and pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawngs:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of one form of my amusement device.

FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view of the amusement device shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a slightly enlarged section taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view similar to FIG. 3 showing a modified form of my amusement device.

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view similar to FIG. 3 showing another modification of my amusement device.

Referring now in more detail and by reference characters to FIGS. 1-3 of the drawings, which illustrate one form of my device, the numeral generally designates a liquid filled, die agitator and pedestal unit comprising an open topped, hollow container 11 preferably made of a transparent, form retaining material, such as glass, said container having a regularly shaped, cylindrical and upstanding side wall 12 closed at the bottom end by a flat, planar wall 13 that is disposed normal to the axis of the side wall. This fiat end wall 13 serves as a window for the liquid filled, die agitator through which one face of a die 70 contained in the agitator may be observed under certain conditions that will be explained hereinafter. The upper, laterally reduced neck 130 of the container 11 is provided with an integral and exterior screw thread 14 which co-operates with an internally threaded metal ring cap 15 to mount a flexible rubber diaphragm 16 across the open end of the container in fluid tight relationship therewith. An opaque liquid 17 completely fills the container and has the multi-faced die 70 immersed therein, said die having a specific gravity that is slightly less than the liquid whereby the die is made bouyant in the liquid. A variety of game indicia 18 are inscribed on the faces of the die and it is contemplated that the overall exterior surfaces of the die will have the same color as the opaque liquid 17, the indicia being of a contrasting color with the die surfaces and the liquid whereby the several indicia will be clearly apparent through the window 13 when the device is turned end-for-end from the position shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 of the drawing to the position shown in FIG. 2 when a particular die face and the indicia thereon will float up beneath the window 13 and the indicia thereon seen clearly therethrough.

The pedestal for the unit 10 is best shown in FIG. 3 and comprises an upper sleeve portion 19 that snugly encircles the lower exterior surface of the container side wall 12, said container being forced axially into the sleeve portion and cemented therein in operative position to provide an agitator and pedestal unit for my amusement device. The pedestal also has an integral, outwardly and downwardly flaring skirt portion 21) which is joined to the sleeve portion, the skirt portion extending well below the window 13 to provide a supporting base upon which the amusement device normally rests, it being noted that the Window 13 is spaced upwardly from the supporting surface 21 of the device by the pedestal to thereby protect the window from damage and also conceal the window from view when the device is normally set upon a surface in inoperative position.

A blown one-piece, hollow casing member 22 made of an opaque plastic material surrounds the container and preferably takes the decorative form of a sphere or globe that may carry out the motif of a particular game to be played with my amusement device. The plastic casing 22 may be made from thermoplastic material selected from classes known as acetates, butyrates, styrenes, or the like. The thin wall of the casing member is provided with a single opening 23 therethrough which conforms closely and is slightly larger than the external configuration of the sleeve portion 19 of the pedestal for the unit. As illustrated in FIG. 3 a continuous head 24 projects from the exterior surface of the pedestal at approximately the area where the sleeve portion 19 merges with the flared portion 20. The pedestal is also formed with a depressed, continuous and exteriorly facing groove 25 that is disposed contiguous to and subjacent the projection 24. In the assembled condition of the amusement device the marginal edge of the casing member formed by the opening 23 is snugly received in the groove 25 and beneath the bead 24, the casing being secured to the agitator and pedestal unit by means of cement applied to the marginal edge of the opening 23 and in the groove 25. For the purpose of providing additional support for the agitator and pedestal unit 10 on the casing member 22 the unit is assembled in the member by axially forcing said unit into the casing member until the edge of the cap 15 abuts firmly against the upper interior surface portion of the casing member (FIG. 3) which because of its sphericity will confine the top of the unit thereunder against axial displacement.

The consecutive steps in the process of assembling the amusement device shown in FIGS. l3 will now be described and with reference to FIG. 3 it will be seen that in such assembly the die member 76 is first inserted into the container 11 and thereafter the opaque liquid 17 is introduced into the container .to fill it up to the level of the top edge of the container. Next the rubber diaphragm 16 and cap 15 are connected to the container it being necessary as the screw cap 15 is being threaded onto the container to simultaneously depress the central part of the diaphragm 16 so that it is concaved slightly inwardly at the time the cap is turned up tight on the periphery of the diaphragm to provide a fluid tight connection between the cap and the container. The sealing of the container takes place at a mean temperature be- I tween the extremes of temperatures that are to be met with during use of the amusement device. In this way a liquid filled, die agitator is produced which has a small vacuum drawn on the liquid in the container by the resiliency of the deformed diaphragm 16 under" ordinary temperatures thus preventing the formation of air bubbles or air pockets within the container which would otherwise detract fromthe appearance and proper operation of the floating die therein. When the device is subjected to high temperatures during use the expansion of the liquid is compensated for by movement of the flexible diaphragm outwardly, whereas when extremely low temperatures are experiencedthe diaphragm will move inwardly to take care of contraction of the liquid thus preventing operational failure of the device and precluding the possibility of collapse or explosion of the container 11 under extreme temperatures.

Upon completing the manufactureof the liquid filled die agitator the lower end thereof is forced axially into the sleeve portion 19 of the pedestal and cemented thereto which forms a unitary die agitator and pedestal construction that is then inserted axially into the casing member device is an all plastic one and that the pedestal 34 is foreshortened with respect to the pedestal heights utilized through the opening 23 therein, the casing being secured to the pedestal by snapping the edge portion of the easing formed by the opening over the projection 24 on the pedestal and into the groove 25 formed therein, a suitable cement being applied to the contiguous abutting surfaces of the groove andthe casing to complete the assembling steps of the device. 1

With reference to FIG. 4, which shows a modification of the device shown in FIGS. 13, the die agitator and pedestal 10 is molded in one piece from a transparent, synthetic plastic material, said unit having a cylindrical, vertical side wall 28 integrally joined at its bottom edge with a downwardly and outwardly flaring pedestal portion 29. A flat, integral web extends across the bottom of the side wall 28 normal to the axis thereof to form a transparent window 30. The open, upper end of the liquid container is formed on a smaller diameter than the tubular side wall 28 toprovide a laterally reduced upwardly extending neck 31 on the container. A peripherally grooved plastic cap 32 is secured to the flange 31 by an electrical welding process, the central portion of the cap providing a flexible diaphragm 33 which is deformed by slightly coneaving it inwardly to hold the liquid under a small vacuum and free of air bubbles during use of the device. 'As in the case" of the device shown in FIGS. l-3 a hollow spherical casing 22 made of opaque plastic material surrounds the container and is secured to the die agitator and pedestal 16 at the level of the window in a manner identical with that shown for the device in said FIGS. 1-3. It is contemplated that the exterior and interior surfaces of the pedestal portion 29 be given a decorative and protective coating of the same or a contrasting color of the opaque casing member 22 to thereby conceal the window 36 from view when the amusement device is resting upon a supporting surface 21. i 7

With reference to FIG. 5 it will be noted that this in the devices shown in FIGS. 13 and 4, the pedestal 34, however, serving to space the transparent window 36 away from the supporting surface 21. -A plastic cap 35 is secured in fluid tight relationship on the reduced open neck of the container by a snap flange 36, the other details of the modified form being identical with those described with reference to the modification shown in FIG. 4.

It should therefore be apparent that I have provided a composite amusement device having an extremely simple yet rugged construction which is susceptible of fabrication from a few parts. Normally the amusement devices heretofore described have their pedestal portions resting upon a suitablesupporting surface 21. When it is desired to use the device in a game foretelling future events by asking a question requiring a yes or no answer, the device is manually lifted and turned end-forend whereupon the die will float upwardly in the fluid 1'7 to a position beneath the window to present one of its indicia carrying faces therebeneath that may be seen and recognized by the player as a response to said question. 7

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is:

1. In an amusement device the combination of a fluid tight container having a tubular, upstanding side wall open at its upper end, a planar window closing and extending across the bottom of the container in a position normal to the axis of said side wall and of one-piece with said side wall; an opaque liquid filling the container,

a multi-faced buoyant member immersed in the liquid,

game indicia on each face of the buoyant member contrasted in color with the color of the opaque liquid, a fluid tight, flexible cap means closing and sealing the upper end of the container, an opaque, hollow casing member spaced from and surrounding the container, said casing having an opening therein for providing axial passage of 'the container side wall therethrough and means for mounting the container within the casing with the container window aligned with the opening in the casing.

2; The amusement device set forth in claim 1 characterized by the fact that the fluid tight, flexible cap means has a resilient diaphragm portion, and that said diaphragm portion is deformed inwardly at a mean temperature between the extremes of temperatures to which the amusement device is to be subjected during normal usage.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,538,455 Winkel May 19, 1925 2,452,730 Carter Nov. 2, 1948 2,695,776 Burg n Nov. 30, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 397,356 France Feb. 20, 1909 555,044 Germany r r July 18, 1932 

1. IN AN AMUSEMENT DEVICE THE COMBINATION OF A FLUID TIGHT CONTAINER HAVING A TUBULAR, UPSTANDING SIDE WALL OPEN AT ITS UPPER END, A PLANAR WINDOW CLOSING AND EXTENDING ACROSS THE BOTTOM OF THE CONTAINER IN A POSITION NORMAL TO THE AXIS OF SAID SIDE WALL AND OF ONE-PIECE WITH SAID SIDE WALL, AN OPAQUE LIQUID FILLING THE CONTAINER, A MULTI-FACED BUOYANT MEMBER IMMERSED IN THE LIQUID, GAME INDICIA ON EACCH FACE OF THE BUOYANT MEMBER CONTRASTED IN COLOR WITH THE COLOR OF THE OPAQUE LIQUID, A FLUID TIGHT, FLEXIBLE CAP MEANS CLOSING AND SEALING THE UPPER END OF THE CONTAINER, AN OPAQUE, HOLLOW CASING MEMBER SPACED FROM AND SURROUNDING THE CONTAINER, SAID CASING HAVING AN OPENING THEREIN FOR PROVIDING AXIAL PASSAGE OF THE CONTAINER SIDE WALL THERETHROUGH AND MEANS FOR MOUNTING THE CONTAINER WITHIN THE CASING WITH THE CONTAINER WINDOW ALIGNED WITH THE OPENING IN THE CASING. 